PREACHING POSSIBILITIES

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
1. The sermon might focus on the wise men. Why are they called "wise"? As in the Gospel lesson for the day, the wise men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them wise men because they made a quest for God. Today, men are wise if they seek God in Christ. The foolish seek other gods power, prestige, possessions. In addition, wise men follow guidance. They saw a result of humble acceptance of guidance, they reached the Christ-child. Moreover, wise men then and now worship the King.

2. In the Gospel for the Day we can see two kinds of worship. The one is a false worship based upon insincerity. Herod told the wise men "that I too may come and worship him" (v. 8). Out of fear for his position, Herod wanted to know where t…